Places to visit in Afghanistan

Kabul

Band-e-Amir

Band-e-Amir, a group of 6 stunning turquoise mineral lakes situated in a remote and desolate part of Aghanistan. www.carlmontgomery.com

Bamiyan

Site of the 53m tall Buddha carving in Bamiyan, constructed in the 6th century AD. There were formerly two gigantic carvings, both were dynamited by the Taliban in 2001. www.carlmontgomery.com

Herat

Brick fortress in Herat, once the capital of the Timurid empire. franz-gustincich/shutterstock

Minaret of Jam

Minaret of Jam, a 63m high minaret built in the 12th century AD. Jam is thought to have been the site of the lost city of the Turquoise Mountain, the greatest city of its age. bruno-pagnanelli/shutterstock

The Wakhan Corridor and the Pamirs

The Wakahn Corridor, an area of far northern Afghanistan that forms a passagway, or corridor between Aghansitan and China. A historic trading route it is suggested that Marco Polo came this way. nikim4860/shutterstock